Motion picture camera and the like



June 24, 1930. HOWELL 1,767,847

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE Filed Augso, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet i June 24, 1930. A. s. HOWELL I MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE Filed Aug- 30, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 2 an a I- r/////// //////////////////4?Z7/ 1 Z W 2 0 my 3 H .70 J f 0.. EM 0 9 June 24, 1930. A. s. HOWELL 1,767,347

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE Filed g- 30, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 24, 1930. A. s. HOWELL 1,767,847

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE June 24, 1930. A. s. HOWELL 1,767,847

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. so, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l illin lllm 01.60% 61 ou Ell by M 9VM,

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT S. HOWELL,

PANY, 01

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BELL & HOWELL COM- CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS mo'rron PICTURE CAMERA AND THE LIKE 'Application fled August 9:0, 1926. Serial No. 182,475.

My invention relates particularly to spring motor driven motion picture cameras although not limited to this use alone.

The main features of the invention relate to the provision of a motion picture camera with a view toward lightness, compactness, ease and convenience of operation, simplicity and efiiciency, and convenience in assembly and accessibility of operating parts.

With these features in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said features and certain other features are effected all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings'and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings- Figure 1 is a front view of a motion picture camera embodying the features of my invention. 4 r

Figure 2 is aside view of the same with the cover thereof removed and parts broken awa and in section.

, Figure '3 is a central transverse vertical section with the lower or take up'film reel removed.

Figure 4 is a side view taken oppositely with respect to Figure 2 and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial view similar to Figure 2 with parts broken away and in section. Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a partial section on the line 77 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a partial rear view with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 9 is a partial section on the line 9-9 of Figure 5. 1

Figure 10 is a partial section 'on the line 10-10 of Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a partial 11-11 of Figure 6. y

Figure 12.is a partial section on the line 1212 of Figure 6.

Figure 13 is a partial front view with parts broken away and in section.

section on the line by the stud Figures 14; and 15 are similar. partial front views with parts removed.

Figure 16 is a partial section on the line 16-16 of Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a partial section on the line 17-17 of Figure 13.

Figure 18 is an enlarged rear view of the intermittent feed shuttle, hereinafter described.

Figure 19 is a side elevation of the intermittent feed shuttle.

Like characters of parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a vertically elongated casing which is open at one side, and said open side is closed by a cover 2 releasably secured to the casing by. a locking mechanism 3 which is operated to lock and release'by an operating member 4 on the exterior of the cover. See Figures 1, 2 and 3.

A frame plate 5 is detachably secured in the casing intermediate and in parallelism with the sides thereof by means of spacing stud and headed screw devices 6 detachably secured to the closed side of the casing 1.

The upper and lower ends of the casing 1 are semicircular on vertically spaced transverse axes. Disposed on the upper of these transverse axes is a stationary stud 7 comprising two parts extending on respective sides of the frame plate and screwthreaded together through a bore in the frame plate and clamping the same therebetween where- 7 is mounted on the frame plate. See Figure 3. Disposed on the lower of these axes is another stationary stud 8 which is mounted respectively on the outer portion of the stud 7 and on the sleeve 9, and these outer spindle sleeves 11 are frictionally engaged therewith for rotation by reason of the sleeves 11 being axially slotted from the outer ends thereof to points adjacent the inner ends thereof, as designated at 12, and

reference indicate like having the slotted portions thereof fitting respectively the stud 7 and the sleeve 9 snugly to provide the proper amount of friction.

eaded screws 13 screwthreaded respectively into the outer ends of the studs 7 and 8 limit outward movement of the sleeves 9 and 11 on these studs. Thus are provided film reel spindles projecting outwardly from the 5 frame plate 5 toward the open side of the casing, and these spindles are ada ted for the removable mounting of film reel 14 over the outer ends thereof. The sleeves 11 are provided at theirinner ends with interlock formations 15 engaging similar formations in the spindle apertures of the reels for rotatably fixing the sleeves 11 with the reels. Thus the upper reel, which is the feed reel, is frictionally held against rotation so that it only rotates in correspondence with the drawing of film therefrom for obvious reasons, and the lower reel, which is the take up reel, likewise rotates in correspondence with the feeding of the film thereto, the inner sleeve 9 being driven at a constant rate, as hereinafter described, sufficient to take up the film fed thereof irrespective of the amount of film wound on this reel and the frictional engagement between the sleeve 9 and the respective sleeve 11 compensating for the variations in speed of the take up reel necessary b reason of the variation of the amount of 1m wound on this reel.

s so mounted the reels 14 are disposed in radially spaced relation and inedgewise alinement between the frame plate 5 and the open side of the casing, they being limited as to inward movement by shoulder formations 16 at the inner ends of the spindles and as to outward movement by projections 17 on the cover locking mechanism 3 when the cover 2 is locked on the casing 1. See F' Disposed between the frame plate 5 and the closed side of the casing 1 are two power spring devices disposed coaxiall with respective of said reel spindles an in spaced edgewise alinement. See Figures 3 and 4,

hese power spring devices are similar and each consists of a bored hub 18, a spring enclosing casing 19 rotatably mounted on the ha and a spiral spring 20 in the spring casing and having its ends connected respectively with the hub, as designated at 21, and with the spring casing, as designated at 22. The hub of the upper spring device is rotatably mounted on the inner end of the stud 7 and has an end thereof engaged in a bore 23 through the closed side of the casing l and provided with a clutch formation 24 or engagement with a windi key, not

shown, the end of the stud 7 ai djacent the closed side of the casing 1 being bored for engagement with a pilot formation of the winding key. The lower hub 18 is rotatably mounted on the inner rtion of the stud 8.

The power spring evices are connected .of the intermediate gears 28 and 32 an in parallel both for driving therefrom and for windin the same in the following manner. See igures 3, 4 and 6. The spring enclosin cases 19'constitute the: driving elements 0? the power spring devices and have spur gears 26 formed on their ripheries at the sides thereof adjacent the ame plate Extending acr'oss between the frame plate 5 and the closed side of thecasing 1 intermediate the spring casings and secured to the frame plate and the closed side of the casing mediate the front and rear walls of the us ing 1, and rotatably mounted on this bearing block on the inner side of the frame plate 5 is 'an intermediate spur car 28, disposed on a transverse axis, w ich meshes with bothof the gears 26 for driving from the power spring devices in parallel. The hubs 18 of the power spring devices constitute the winding elements thereof, and spur gears 29 are secured on these hubs between the spring cases 19 and the closed side of the casing 1 for rotating the same to wind the swings 20, the upper gear 29 having an axial aperture engaging the inner portion clutch formation 24 of the upper hub 18 and the lower gear 29 being provided with a square axial aperture en aging a square formation 31 on the end 0% the lower hub '18 adjacent the closed side of the casing 1.

second intermediate spur gear 32 is rotatably mounted on the bearing block 27 adjacent the closed side of the casing in coaxial relationwith the gear 28 and meshes with both of the gears 29 for winding the wet spring devices in parallel. A spring rake automatic one way check device 33 of usual construction is mounted on a stud 34 supported on and extending transversel between the frame plate 5 and the close side of the casing 1 and is provided with a gear 35 which meshes with the lower gear 29 for preventing unwinding of the power spring devices through the winding gear train con stituting the gears 29 and the intermediate gear 32.

Thus it will be observed that by rotating the upper-hub 18 in the proper direction, as by a suitable key engaged with the clutch formation 24, both power spring devices are wound in parallel, the lower hub 18 being rotated with the upper hub 18 by the winding gear train. The check device 33 operates throu h the winding gar train to ion 0 and the cl and the between the power spring devices, see Figures 3, 4 and 5, and this shaft is rotatably mounted at its rear end in a bored hub 37, secured on and extending forwardl ernor casing 38 secured side of the -See Figures-4, 5, 6 and 11.

surfaceof the rear wall of the casing 1, and at its front endextends through and is rotatably mounted in a bore through the front wall of the casing 1, see Figure 16. A bracket 39 secured on the inner face of the frame plate 5 embraces the shaft 36 ashort distance forward of the front end of the hub 37 and an anti-friction bearing 41 reacting on this bracket serves as a forward thrust bearing;

for the shaft 36. Y

The shaft 36 is driven from the intermediate gear 28 in the following manner. A transverse shaft 42 extends across between and is rotatably mounted on the frame plate 5 and the closed side of the casing 1, and secured on this shaft adjacent the inner side of the frame plate in a spur gear pinion 43 which meshes with the intermediate gear 28 for drivin therefrom. A spiral gear 44 is secure 28 and 32 and adjacent the gear 28 and meshes with a spiral gear pinion 45 secured on the shaft 42 between the bearin 41 and the front end of the hub 37 for driving the shaft 42 from the intermediate gear 28,

the spiral gears 44 and 45constituting right angle spiral gearing and the drive from the power spring-devices being in the direction to thrust the shaft 36 forwardly, this thrust being taken 'up by the anti-friction bearing 41.

Two vertically spaced transverse shafts 46 disposed forwardly of and adjacent the intermediate gear 28, extend across between and are rotatably mounted on the frame plate 5 and the closed side of the casing l and project outwardly from the frame plate I toward the open side of the casing. See Figures 6 and 12. Spur gear pimons 47 are secured on' respective of these shafts 46 on the inner side of the frame plate 5 and adjacent the same and mesh with the intermediate ear 28 for driving these shafts therefrom. onstant feed film sprockets 48 are secured on the projecting portions of respective of the shafts 46' between the frame plate 5 and the open side of the casing 1 and are disposed in film feeding alinement with the reels 14 mounted on the aforementioned film reel spindles for respectively feeding film from the upper or feed reel and to the lower or take up reel.

A transverse stud 49 projects outwardly from the frame plate 5 toward the open side of the casing 1 1n coaxial relationflwith the gears 28 and 32 and is disposed to the rear of the axial plane of the sprockets 48 and intermediately of the .sprockets. Mounted on this stud for independent pivotal movement are ;two film retaining members 51. See Figures 2, 3, 5, and'6. These film retaining members extend forwardly fromthe stud 49 and between the sprockets 48 and have their front ends formed for retaining on the shaft 42 between the gears plate 54 or 56 is releasa ly he (1 in this position by film engaged on respective sprockets 48.

The film retaining members 51 extend rearrespective of the sprockets and against respective stops 52. By manually moving the film retaining members against the influence of the spring 53 they are moved away from the respective sprockets 48 for lacing a film thereon or unlacing the same therefrom, the arrangement being simple and effective and affording a convenient lacing and unlacing of the film on the sprockets as well as being adapted for the construction and arrangement shown.

A vertically disposed intermittent film feed guide is associated with the front wall of the casing 1 intermediately of the reel spindles and consists as follows. See Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7 A vertically elongated rectangular plate 54 is secured against the rear face of the front wall of the casing 1 adjacent the open side ofthe casing, and

constitutes the front face guide wall of the guide. Carried for pivotal movement at its upper end of a transverse axis, by means of a suitable mounting 55 carried by the frame plate 5, and disposed between the frame plate 5 and the open side of the casing 1 is a guide block 56 on which is mounted, for limited movement forwardly, a transverse guideplate 57 which is yieldably urged to its forward position" with respect to the block 56 by a suitable sprin device 58. The block 56 and the plate 5% as soxrelated constitute the rear face guide elementof the guide. The block 56 when in film uidin position is, together with the plate 5 ara lel with the frontface uide uidin a film,'and the lock means of a stud 59 on the lower end of the block 56 adjacent the frame plate 5 and a notched spring arm 60] mounted on the frame plate 5 and en aging said stud with the notch thereof. ee Figures 5 and 6. Abnormal rearward pressure on the block '56 will release the stud 59 from the notch in the spring arm for rearward movement of the block 56 to open the guide for lacing film in and unlacing thev same from the guide, it bein obvious that forward move osiment of the b ock 56 into its forward tion effects reengagement of the stu with the notch of thel'spring arm 60. flat spring 62 is secured on the frame plate and extends across the plane of a film in in retaining members A v engagement with the film downwardl termediate the guide at the inner edge thereof to provide an inneredge guide for the film, and a vertical rail 63 secured on the rear face of the front face guide plate 54 adjacent its outer edge to form an outer edge guide for the film. The.pressure of the s ring device 58 and the sprin 62 exert su cient pressure on a film in t e guide to retain the same in registry while the film is at rest in the guide.

The front face guide plate 54 is provided with an exposure aperture 64 disposed inthe plate 57*, and the front wall of the casing 1 is provided with an exposure opening 65 registering with the exposure aperture 64 for the exposure of film in the guide. A housing member 66 is secured on the front face of the front wall of the casing 1 in front of the intermittent film feed guide and forms a narrow transverse enclosure with the front wall of the casing. A photoigraphic lens 67 of a usual type is mounted on the front of the housing member .66 in alinement .with" the exposure aperture 64 for the exposing of film thereat.

An intermittent film feed shuttle 68 of elongated rectangular form isdisposed longitudinally of and in parallelism with the ront. face guide plate 54 and immediately in front of the same and is en aged for ertlcal reciprocating movement 0 'tudinally of the ide in a slide 69 formed in the rear face 0 the front wall of the casi 1. See F lgures 5, 6, 7 and 13. The shuttle plate 68 has a pair of parallel resilient arms 71 struck from intermediate metal of the plate and connected to one mar inal end of the plate and extending longitu the movement thereof toward the other end of the plate. See Figures 18 and 19. These arms are set to extend rearwardly out of the plane of the plate and the free ends thereof are formed, as designated at 72, for

rforations of a film in 1m feed guide to move in the guide with the uttle plate and to slide the mtermittent down stroke of the s over the film on the up stroke of the shuttle gage film in the intermittent film feed plate for engagement with other perforations of the film. The arms 71 have portions thereof ad'acent their connected ends of reduced thickness as desi ted at 73, to localizebending thereof. he arms enguide through lon 'tudinal slots 74 in the front face guide p ate 54 at res tive sides of the exposure aperture 64, an intermediate metal of the shuttle late is removed to provide a marginal ormation and an intermediate opening 75 exposingthe exposure aperture 64 of the frontface guide plate. See Figures 5, 6, 7 and 13;

Secured on the front of the housing member 66 is a stud 76 which extends rearwardly therefrom in the enclosure thereof 'nally of normal to the-plane of the shuttle plate 68 and the film guide. A spur ear 77 is revolubly mounted on this stu and extends rearwardly from the housing member in the enclosure thereof, and the stud and gear are disposed below and adjacent the exposure aperture 64- and exposure opening 65 on an axis intermediate the sides of the for intermittently covering the exposure aperture 64 or while the film is being intermittently moved in the guide.

Secured on the front end of the operating shaft 36 is a spur gear 82 dis (1 in the enclosure of the housing mem r 66 immediately to the rear of the shutter 81. This gear, as is the shaft 36, is disposed on an axis to one side of the intermittent film feed guide and meshes with the gear 77- for driving thesame to effect rotation of the shutter 81 and reciprocation of the shuttle plate 68.

It will be observed that the intermittent film feeding and exposing mechanism is sim- ,ple and compact and particularly adapted for the general construction shown, and that the shuttle by reason of its construction and arrangement with the intermittent film feed guide engages perforations on both sides of a film in the guide immediately at the exposure aperture with obvious advantage.

A pair of transversely spaced studs 84 I are mounted on the front of the housing member 66 and extend rearwardly in the enclosure thereof below the ath of the shutter and engage in bores in t e front. wall of the casing 1. See Figures 5, 7, 13, 16 and 17. Washers 85 on respective studs 84 abut the front face of the casing 1 and form forwardly facing shoulder formations on the studs. A stop member 86 extending in the enclosure of the housing member 66 is mounted on the studs 84 for tilting movement normal to the plane of the shutter 81,

and is provided with an upwardly extend- 'ing stop formation 87 movable in the tilting movement of the stop member into and out of the plane of the shutter and adapted when in the plane of the shutter to engage the leading edge of the shutter to stop rotation thereof and accordingly operation of the camera mechanism. When the stop formation 87 is out'of. the plane of the shutter, the shutter together with the camera mechanism is permitted to operate under the driving power of the aforementhe studs 84 in ber 86 and acts between the housing member in its stopping position with tioned power spring devices. The stopping osition of the stop member 86 is shown 1n full lines and the operation permittingposition is shown in dotted lines in Fi re 17. A flat bow s ring 88' is mounte on ront of the .stop memformation in the plane of the shutter 81 and engaged with the leading edge thereof. The stop member 86 is provided with a downward extension90 extending outwardly beyond the lower side of the housing member 66 into a recess 91 in the front face :of the front wall of the casing 1 where this extension 90 is exteriorly exposed for mariual operation of the stop member for controlling operation of the camera in an obvious manner. Thus is provided a-simple and effective stop mechanism utilizing the leading edge of the shutter. 81' as a stop formation and particularly adapted for the construction shown.

As hereinbefore mentioned the speed governor casing 38 is secured against the inner surface of the rear wall of the casing 1, and it forms a circular enclosure therewith disosed on an axis parallel with the operating shaft 36. See Figures 2, 5, 6 and 8. A short shaft 93 is disposed in coaxial relation with the enclosure of the casing 'and parallel with the shaft 36 and extends across the same and is journaled at respective ends thereof in the front wall of the governor casing and the rear wall of the casing 1. Secured on this shaft forwardly, in the enclosure of the governor casing is a spur gear94 which meshes with a gear 95 secured on the rear end of the operating shaft 36 for driving nor wheel 96 within the enclosure of the shaft 93. -A concentrically bored goverthe governor casing is revolubly mounted on the shaft 93 immediately in front of a flange 97 on the shaft adjacent its rear end, and

a spring device 98 on this shaft presses the governor wheel rearwardly against, the flange 97 tov provide a frictional driving connection between the shaft and the governor wheel to cushion the shock of sudden sto page of the camera mechanism .upon t e governor wheel. The rim of the governor wheel is A axially slotted at equally spaced intervals and the web thereof is cut correspondingly to provide rim segments 99 free at the trailing ends thereof to expand outwardly under the centrifugal influence of weights 100 secured to the rim segments on .to be rotated by The frame plate 5 has a large posite points on the side of the lower the insides thereof. A resilient friction band'101 within the governor casing is secured at one end, as designated at 102, to

the governor casing, and encircles the governor wheel. A lever 103 is intermediately pivoted on the rear wall of the casing 1 at the inner face of this wall and has one end thereofprojecting into an opening in the the proper operating speed of the camera During the operation of the camera mechanism the rim segments 99 expand against the friction band 101 under the influence of the weights 100 in propormechanism.

-tion to the speed of the camera mechanism for controlling the speed thereof.

A film 105 in the camera is fed from the upper or feed film reel 14 to and under the upper constant feed sprocket 48, thence with a compensating loop to the upper end of the intermittent film feed guide, thence downwardly through the guide, thence with another compensating loop to and over the lower constant feed sprocket 48, and thence finally to the lower or take up film reel 14. See Figures 2 and 5. The lower or take up film reel is operated directly from the lower power spring device, which is disposed coaxially therewith, in the following manner. As hereinbefore described the lower spindle sleeve 11, upon which the lower or take up reel 14 is mounted to be rotated therefrom, is frictionally engaged the inner sleeve 9. See Figures 2 and 3. opening therethrough surrounding the stud 8 and this opening is provided with internal spur gear teeth 106 disposed concentrically' with the stud 8 and accordingl the lower power spring device and the ower reel spindle. The inner end of the sleeve 9 is provided with a spur pinion 107 disposed in the plane of the frame plate. An annular plate 108 surrounds the sleeve 9 adjacent its inner end and has its periphery disposed for free rotation in an outwardly facing counterbore of the internally toothed opening of the frame plate and covering the internal gear teeth 106, the platelOS being limited as to outward movement by the shoulder formation 16which on the lower spindle consists of a washer on the sleeve 9 between the inner end of the lower sleeve 11 and the pinion 107 on the sleeve 9. Studs 110 are secured at diametrically opspring casing 19 adjacent the frame plate 5 and lens 114 and are graphic. fields of different '19 adjacent the frame plate and the ann'ular plate 108 and revolubly mounted onrespective studs 110 and mesh with the internal gear teeth 106 and with the pinion 107. Thus is provided train for driving the lower'or ta e up reel evice,

it being observed that this reel spindle is driven at a faster rate than that of the lower power spring casing 19 to effect the V proper speed of the take up reel to take up the film as fed thereto-irrespective of the amount of film wound on the reel, the frictional driving engagement between the sleeve 9 and the lower sleeve 11 compensating for the uniform feeding of the film to the take up reel by the lower constant feed sprocket 48. Thus is provided a'simple and effective direct take up drive from the lower power spring device to the take up spindle which is particularly adapted for the construction shown.

A view finder is provided which extends forwardly and rearwardly throu h the .casing 1 between the power spring evices and the intermediate ears 28 and 32,-and consists as follows. ee Figures 1, 3 and 6. A forwardly expanding viewing tube 113 extends forwardly and rearwardly through the casing 1 between the power springdevices and the gears 28 and 32 and passes through bores in the front and rear walls of the casing 1 and in the intermediate portion of the bearing block 27. A lens 114 'is mounted in a bore in the front of the housing member 66 in alinement with the tube 113, and a complemental lens 115 is mounted in a sleeve 116 in' the rear end of the tube 113, said sleeve having a rear transverse wall at the rear face of the lens 115, which wall is provided with 'a centrally. disposed peep hole 117 through which the user looks. This arrangement is particularly adapted to the construction shown and rovides for the disposition of the view fin er adjacent the focal axis of the photographic lens with obvious advantage.

A variable masking device is provided for the viewfinder for such pur oses as adjusting the view finder to de e the photophotographic lenses and consists as follows. A pair of superposed mask plates 118 are mounted for sliding slide in the front face of t e front wall of the casing 1 underlying the housing member 66. See Figures 5, 6, 13, 14, and 15. These mask plates traverse the view finder im mediately to the rear of the front view finder provided with oppositely disposed edges 119 of rig-ht angle formation .so that when the mas an epic clic gear,

movement in a dia onally disposed cent its periphery forming a rectangular mask openin for the view finder to define the photogra due field of the lens 67, the aforementioned slide in which the mask plates are mounted being diagonal to the rectan lar mask openin fi plates-are moved along the slide in opposlte direction both dimensions of the mask opening are varied proportionately. An adjusting member 120 is mounted for angular movement in a bore through the front of the housin member 66 on an axis normal to the masfi plates 118 above the hotographic lens 67 and is manually opera le from the exterior of .the housing member. A pair of studs 121 are mounted on the adjusting member 120 in diametricall opposite relation and projecting rearwar 1y therefrom engage in slots .122 in respective of said mask plates and extending transversely of the movement of the plates for simultaneously effecting corresponding opposite movement of the mask plates with angular movement of the adjusting member 120, the arrangement being such that this angular adjustment of the ad ustin member 120 varies the size of the rectangfiar mask opening and maintains the center of the mask openin constant and. co-

incident with the axis 0 the view finder. Each of the mask plates 118 isrovided with a curved slot 123 which provi es clearance for the stud. 121 of the othermask plate. Figures 7 and 14 show the mask plates 118 and the studs 121 when the mask ticularly adapted for the construction shown. A film footage recording device is provided and consists as follows. See Figures 4, 5, 9 and 10. A footage dial 125 is rotatably mounted in a recess in the outer face of the closed side of the casing 1 by means of a headed stud 126, the dial being frictionally held against accidental rotation by a spring washer 127 on this stud. Secured on the inner face of casing 1 by means including the stud 126 and a nut 128 screwthreaded on the inner end of the stud, which also clamps the stud upon the casing 1, is a check pawl member 129 having a resilient pawl arm 130 extend-- ing through an opening 131 in the side of the casing 1 and engaging ratchet teeth 132 on the inner face of the footage dial adjato prevent backward movement of the footage dial. Pivotally mounted intermediate its length on the innerend of the nut 128 is an advance pawl 4 with a resilientpawl arm 134 overlying -gthe pawl arm member 133 which is provided the closed side of the.

arm 134 engaging ratchet teeth of the foot- I 131 the advancing move-' tion 136 of the member 129. A roller 137 is rotatably mounted on the end of the member 133 opposite that on which the pawl arm 134 is disposed, and the spring enclosing casing 19 of the upper power spring device is provided on its periphery with projecting cam portions 138 which are aligned with the roller 137 and engage the same in the rotation of this spring casing to intermittently operate the'pawl member 133 against the influence of the spring 135 whereby to oscillate this pawl member and efiect operation of the footage dial by means of the pawl age dial, the check pawl 130 preventing backward movement of the footage dial as the pawl arm 134 ratchets over the ratchet teeth of the footage dial on its return strokes. Thus is provided a simple and effective footage recording device which is operated directly from the driving member of a power spring device and which is particularly adapted for the construction shown.

While I have described and shown the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. Ina motion picture camera the combination with a vertically elongated closure, of a pair of power spring devices disposed within said closure adjacent one side thereof on vertically spaced transverse axes, a pair of film reel spindles disposed within said closure on vertically spaced transverse axes and adapted to carry film reels between said power spring devices and the other side of said closure, film feeding and exposing mechanism arranged intermediate the horizontal axial planes of said spindles, and means for driving said film feeding and exposing mechanism from said power spring devices. 2. In a motion picture nation with a vertically elongated closure, of a pair of power spring devices disposed within said closure adjacent one side thereof on vertically spaced transverse axes, a pair of film reel spindles disposed within said closure on vertically s aced transverse axes and adapted to carry fi m reels between camera the combi- Y intermediate the said power spring devices and the other side of said closure, an exposure shutter and cooperating intermittent feed mechanism as sociated with the front wall of said closur'e horizontal axial planes of said spindles, and "means for driving said shutter and feed mechanism from said spring devices.

3. n a motion picture camera the combination with a vertically elongated closure, of a pair of power spring devices disposed within said closure adjacent one side thereof on vertically spaced transverse axes, a pair of film reel spindles disposed within,

said closure on vertically spaced transverse axes and adapted to carry film reels between said power spring devices and the other side of said closure, an exposure shutter and a cooperating intermittent anism associated with the front wall of said casing intermediate the horizontal axial planes of said spindles, and means for driving said shutter and feed mechanism from said power spring devices including a shaft extending forwardly and rearwardly on an axis extending between the axes of said spring devices.

4. In a motion picture camera the combination with a vertically elongated closure having the upper and lower ends thereof semi-circular'on vertically spaced transverse axes, of a pair of power spring devices disposed within said closure adjacent one side thereof on vertically spaced transverse axes coincident with those of said semi-circular ends, a pair of film reel spindles disposed within said closure on vertically spaced transverse axes coincident with those of said semi-circular ends and adapted to carry film reels between said spring devices and the other side of said closure, film feeding and exposure mechanism arranged intermediate the horizontal planes of said spindles, and means for driving said film feeding and exposing mechanism from said power spring devices.

5. In a motion picture camera the combination with a vertically elongated closure having the upper and lower ends thereof semi-circular on vertically spaced transverse axes, of a pair of power spring devices disposed within said closure adjacent one side thereof on vertically spaced transverse axes film feed mech gearing for driving said shaft from a5 closure,

. intermittent feeding intermediate the horizontal axial planes of said spindles and forwardly of the vertical axial plane thereof, means for driving from said power spring devices in parallel including a spur gear disposed intermediate thereof on a transverse axis, a shaft for operating said shutter and intermittent feed mechanism and extending forwardly and rearwardly on an axis extending between 10 said power spring devices, right angle gearing or driving said shaft from said spur gear, and spur gear means meshing with said spur gear for driving said constant film feed means.

6. In a motion picture camera the combination of two spaced power spring devices disposed similarly in edgewise relation, means for driving from said spring devices in parallel including a spur gear disposed no intermediately thereof on an axis disposed similarly with the axes thereof, an intermittent film feed and shutter operating shaft extending between said spring devices on an axis transverse to the axes thereof, angle said spur gear, constant film feed means, and spur gear means meshing with said first mentioned gear for driving said constant film feed means.

7. In a motion picture camera the combination with a vertically elongated closure, of a pair of vertically spaced power spring devices disposed ,within said closure on transverse axes adjacent one side of said a pair of vertically spaced film reel spindles disposed within said closure on vertically spaced transverse axes and adapted to carry film reels between said power spring devices and the other side of said closure,

and exposing mechanlsm associated with the front wall of said closure intermediate said spindles, a shaft for operating said feeding and exposing mechanism and extending forwardly and rearwardly on an axis extendin between said spring devices, constant film eed means in said casing intermediate said spindles,

gearing for driving from said power spring.

devices in parallel including a spur gear disposed interme iate thereof on a transverse axis, right angle gearing for driving said shaft from said spur gear, and spur gear means meshing with, said spur gear for driving said constant film feedmeans.

8.In a motion picture camera the combination of a vertically elongated casing open at one side, two verticallyspaced transverse hn reel spindles therein adapted for carrying film reels adjacent said open side, two so vertically spaced power spring devices disposed in said-casing on transverse axes adacent the other side oflthe casing, intermittent feeding and exposing mechanism assofil a ciated with the front of saidcasing interl5 mediate said spindles,

a speed governor associated with the rear of the casing intermediate said spindles,,a shaft for operati said feeding and exposing mechanism an said governor and extending forwardly and rearwardly between said spring devices, constant film feed means in said casing intermediate said spindles, gearing for drivin from said spring devices in parallel inclu ing a spur gear disposed intermediate thereof on a transverse axis, right angle gearing fordriving said shaft from said spur gear, and spur (gear means meshing with said first mentione gear for driving said constant film feed means! 9. In a motion nation of a casing open at one side, a frame plate in said casing intermediate the sides thereof and in parallelism therewith, two spaced transverse film reel spindles projecting outwardly from said frame plate toward said open side, two power spring devices disposed coaxially with respective of said spindles and between said frame plate and the other side of said casing, gearing for driving from said spring device. and dispose between said frame plate and said other side of said casing,

winding said spring devices and isposed beother side tween said frame late and said of said casing, and means cooperating with said other side of said casing and said frame plate for carrying said spindles, spring devices and gearing.

10. In a motion picture camera the combination of a vertically elongated casing open at one side, a frame late in said casing intermediate the sides t ereof and in parallelism therewith, two vertically spaced transverse film reel spindles projecting outwardly from said frame plate toward said open side, two power spring devices disposed o0- axially with respective of said spindles and between said frame plate and the other side of said casing, gearing for driving from said spring devices in parallel disposed between said frame plate'and said other side of thecasing and including a gear disposed intermediate said spring devices, ,gearing for winding said spring devices and disposed between said frame plate and' said other side of said casing and including .a second gear disposed intermediate said spring devices and disposed coaxially with said first mentioned gear, and means cooperating with said other side of said casing an frame plate for carrying said spindles,

spring devices and gearing.

In a motion picture camera thecombination of a vertically elongated casing openat-one side, a frameplate in said casm reel spindles projecting outwardly from said frame plate toward said open side, two power spring devices disposed coaxially picture camera the combi- 1 additional (gearing fortween said frame having respective ends thereof connecte with respective of said indles and belate an the other side of said casing, eac of said spring devices including a revoluble hub, a revoluble spring enclosing casing and a splral power spring in the spring enclosing casincgi and with the spring enclosing casing and said hub, a gear train between said frame plate and said other side of said casing for driving from said sprin devices including gear teeth formed on t e peripheries of said casings and an intermediate gear meshing therewith, a second ear train between said frame plate and sai other side of the casing for winding said s ring devices including two gears secure with respective of I said hubs and a second intermediate gear meshing therewith and disposed coaxially with said first mentioned intermediate gear,

one of said hubs having a clutch formation thereon accessible through a bore in said other side of the casing for winding said spring devices, an automatic one way check device in the casing between said other side thereof and said frame plate and a gear on said check device meshing with one of the gears of said second r train, and means cooperating with said other side of said casing andsaid frame platefor carrying said spindles, spring devices and gear trains.

12. In a motion picture camera thecombination with a power s rin device, of a revoluble film reel spin le 'sposed coaxially therewith, film feeding -mechanism,.

means for driving said feeding mechanism from said power sprin device, .and means for driving said spind e from said spring device independently of said first mentioned drivin means.

13. n a motion picture camera the combination of a ower spring device, a revoluble film reei spindle disposed coaxially therewith, and an epicyclic gear train for driving said spindle from said spring device, said spindle' including aninner revoluble spindle member driven by said geartrain and an outer film reel engagin spindle sleeve member frictionall mount on said inner spindle member w e'reby to be frictionall driven thereby.

14. n a motion picture camera the combination of a power spring device including a revoluble driving member, of a revoluble film reel spindle disposed coaxially therewith, a spur pinion on said spindle, a stationary internal spur gear disposed coaxially with said driving member and .said spindle, and a revolub e spur gear 'carried on said driving member and meshing with said s ur pinion and said internal car.

15. n a motion picture camera t e combination of a power spring device including a revoluble casing constituting the driving member thereof, a revoluble film reel spindle disposed coaxially therewith, a stationary frame plate'intermediate the spring device and spindle and disposed normal to the axis of said spring device and spindle and provided with a relatively large opening t gear teeth disposed concentrically with said spring device and spindle, a spur pinion on said spindle disposed in the plane of said plate, an annular member on the spindle side of said plate and surrounding said spindle and closing said opening, spur gears between said casing side and said annular member and meshing with said internal gear teeth and said pinion, and studs extending across between said casing side and said annular member and engaged thereerethrough formed with internal spur.

with and carrying respective of said spur gears for rotation.

16. In a motion picture camera the combination with a casing, of a pair of vertically spaced power spring devices within said casing, exposure means including a photographic lens disposed on a forwardly and rearwardly extending axis and disposed intermediate said power spring devices and I wardly and rearwardly extending axis and disposed intermediate said power spring devices and to one side of and adjacent the vertical plane thereof, film feeding mechanism driven 'by said power spring devices and cooperatin with said exposure means, and a view fin er coordinated with said exposure means and extending forwardly and rearwardly through said casing and between said power spring devices. a

18. In a motion picture machine the combination of a pair of parallel film s rockets, a stud disposed in parallelism wlth said sprockets to one side of the axial plane of said sprockets and intermediately of the sprockets, a pair of film retaining members pivotally mounted for inde endent movement intermediately of the engths thereof on said stud and having corresponding ends thereof extending between said sprockets for movement into and out of film retaining relation with respective thereof, stop means engageable with the other ends of respective of said film retaining members for limiting itions, and a coiled torsional spring eniiszling said stud and'having its ends engaging respective of said retaining members or yieldably urging the same into film retaimng position and a ainst said stop means. In witness whereo I hereunto aflix my signature this 24th day of August, 1926.

. ALBERT S. HOWELL. 

